Home Defense Caliber Poll, 9mm, .45 or .357

[sigbear]

Which caliber do you prefer for your "Home Defense Handgun" and why?

For this poll I am using 3 of the most common calibers, 9mm, .45 and .357 mag.

I own several of each caliber, My choice in order:

1) .45

2) 9mm +P

3) .357 mag. last only because of the blinding flash issue in the dark. Most of the low flash .357 mag. ammo. that I found is med. velocity which would have similar ballistics to 9mm., (Obviously full power .357 mag. would be far more potent).

Example of low flash med. velocity .357 mag and 9mm+P:

9mm +p gold dot - 1220 fps--410 fpe
.357 Golden saber-1220 fps--413 fpe


Sigbear

 

[CountGlockula]

Personally a .40S&W is perfect for me.

But, according to your list...

.45ACP, because the bigger the hole the better.

 

[possum]

i wish there was an "other" choice on your poll as i use .40S&w, in my xd service model with m6 as my hd gun.

as soon as i test enough .45acp sd loads and settle on one, my 1911 will be my defense but for the last 3 years and for the time being the xd and .40 is my go to gun and caliber.

 

[Walkalong]

.45

.357 is LOUD inside, is liable to have a GREAT deal of muzzle flash, and is hard to manage for many people.

The boom from a .45 is easier to deal with than the crack of the 9MM indoors with no hearing protection.

Why 9mm when you can have a .45 anyway.

 

[mavracer]

45 low pressure

 

[krs]

.45 make hard thump on bad guy. Take his breath away.

 

[steelyblue]

I use all three, but I shoot 45 the best.

 

[tigre]

I'm happy with my 9mm because it's comfortable, I shoot it well, and if the first hole isn't big enough I can make 14 more.

 

[boostedxt]

Whatever gun I shoot the best. For me its my 9MM. its the gun I draw the fastest, most accurate with, and feel the most comfortable with.

Joe

 

[.cheese.]

Most people have voted for .45, for obvious reasons as it's a great round: manageable, can have good mag capacity, and proven.

I voted .357 mag though not because I think .357 mag is better than .45, if I was (G-d forbid) in a gunfight for my life, I'd opt for a .45 autoloader any day.

However, as a home defense gun, walls become a problem. .45 is heavy and capable of overpenetrating (notice I didn't say it was likely to). I think that the ratio of size to velocity with the .357 mag is better suited to use in a house as I feel it's less likely to overpenetrate. Additionally, revolvers don't jam, and open up the opportunity to use certain special ammunitions specifically designed for home-defense with avoiding overpenetration in mind while at the same time not worry about feeding issues from such rounds.

That's why I picked it. Bear in mind though, it can kick hard from a snubby if that's your HD gun, probably harder than .45 in a subcompact autoloader.

 

[Poor East Texan]

I plan to get to my 870 actually....

But closest to hand is a 1911 in .45ACP by God!

 

[mbt2001]

I have a .357 loaded with .38's+p and regular .38's. I have a 12 gauge too... Obviously would grab it first.

revolvers don't jam,

+1

 

[TXCHL2008]

I personally carry a Kimber Custom CDP II, 5" 1911 in .45ACP at home (and carry it as my primary CCW about 40% of the time). I also have my other primary concealed carry .45 - a Colt New Agent, and an XD .40SC. But for home defense, they are only to fight my way to my Remington 870 Super Mag loaded with Remington Express Mag 00BK.

Jeff

 

[Rexster]

I don't have a dedicated home-defense weapon, instead using the same weapons I have acquired for duty and carry. My primary duty pistol(s) must be .40, though I am "allowed" to use other chamberings for "off-duty and back-up" purposes. Rather than switch/change weapons twice a day, and therefore opening a safe twice a day, I use .40 and .357 mag handguns, and a twelve-gauge shotgun, for all regular daily purposes.

That being said, I would go with .45 ACP and .45 Colt handguns if home defense was the primary goal, and outside factors did not influence the decision. That is how I voted in the poll, and I do own .45 handguns.

I like the gentler flash and recoil characteristics of regular-pressure .45 ACP and Colt ammo, along with the less-sharp noise signature. (Actual decibel level is not necessarily less.)

I will add that I much prefer a long gun for almost all defensive purposes, but this poll is in the handgun section, so I won't get into that.

 

[kitsapcharly]

I'm a great fan of the 45 for serious business. 22 for target practice. In between sometimes because you can't carry your 45 too easily in some clothing.
For home defense the obvious answer is you the 13-round mag in my Springfield Armory XD-45c instead of the 10-round mag it has in it at the moment.

 

[Don357]

I chose .45, but I actually have all 3 as well as a 12ga pump within arms reach of my bed.
P.S. There's also a .308 CETME right beside the 12ga!

 

[SureThing]

12ga.

Or .45

Remember, if you live in a residental area, you should really consider over penetration.

 

[mgkdrgn]

45 Colt with a 9mm chaser

00 from 12 guage as a backup

 

[KBintheSLC]

You really need to add "other" as an option... there are a lot of options that are left out. My first choice for an HD handgun is a 10mm Auto.

 

[UnTainted]

357sig, 9mm, or .40.

I will switch to .45 when I get into suppressors, though!

 

[weisse52]

.45. For all the postive comments already mentioned.

 

[elChupacabra!]

Alright here goes I'm gonna be the first one to say it apparrently...

Revolvers certainly CAN jam - and if they do, no immediate action drill in the world, short of "drive to gunsmith," is gonna get you back in the fight!

So for me .357 Mag doesn't get any points from the reliability front, although it is certainly a very capable caliber in other regards. I like 45 ACP for the big hole, manageable recoil / flash, good magazine capacity, and pure shootability of my custom 1911.

Ok run for cover

 

[HGUNHNTR]

I prefer the .357 simply because that is what I have the most confidence in.

 

[Caliban]

However, as a home defense gun, walls become a problem. .45 is heavy and capable of overpenetrating (notice I didn't say it was likely to). I think that the ratio of size to velocity with the .357 mag is better suited to use in a house as I feel it's less likely to overpenetrate.

i was under the impression the 45 was less likely to overpenetrate than a 357 magnum.

 

[mljdeckard]

Talking about overpenetration, stopping power, or reliability is really splitting hairs here. Any of these plans can work or fail. Trying to perfectly match the gun to a hypothetical situation is......unreliable.

Use the one you shoot best, use premium ammo. All defensive handguns should have night sights anyway. Get a good flashlight and some training in how to use it correctly.

And most of all, remember Clint Smith. "The handgun is what you use to fight your way back to the long gun you never should have put down in the first place." If a handgun is what you have, that's what you use, but they are all varying degrees of bad choices. Think hard about a rifle and/or shotgun with proper ammo.